The effects of watermelon mosaic virus 1 infection on the physiological and biochemical activities of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.)

Physiological biochemical changes associated with watermelon mosaic virus 1 (WMV sub(1)) in "Yuva" cultivar of muskmelon were investigated. WMV sub(1) isolate was collected from muskmelon field around Beypazari-Ankara. The seedlings were grown in perlit and irrigated periodically with Arnon's nutrient solution. Respiration rate was determined at 3 days and other biochemical tests were done at weekly intervals. The results showed that WMV sub(1) infection increased the protein level but it reduced the level of the other physiological and biochemical activities such as respiration rate, starch, sugars (glucose, fructose and saccharose), inorganic nitrogen and total nitrogen contents of infected plants compared with the healthy ones.